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Barack Obama and John McCain debated - actually debated - last night in the first of what will be three presidential debates. And while the insta-polls seem to show that Obama was the winner, it sure looked evenly matched last night.
Going into the debate, which was still an uncertainty until a few hours beforehand, McCain was expected to have the upper-hand, with history and experience behind him. Obama also brought a series of expectations to the table with him. Somewhere between the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 and his acceptance speech this year, the guy got a reputation as a stunning speaker. And while the two sparred over the subtle nuances of foreign policy, international diplomacy and the realities of Waziristan (can you say Quemoy and Matsu?) neither candidate landed the rhetorical punch that would make this debate a clear win-loss for one or the other.
Each candidate took some swipes at each other last night. McCain stayed on the attack most of the evening, painting Obama as naive and unprepared to lead. And Obama took the opportunity to link McCain and Bush on the economy, the war in Iraq, and foreign policy. While the McCain camp would like to use this debate to shift the focus of the campaign to foreign policy and international relations, (the consensus among the media, people that watch these debates professionally and are paid to have an opinion, believe that McCain won), the fact is that the economy is still very much at the top of the headlines. With less than 40 days left to go until the election, voters will have more opportunities to decide on a president. And while McCain may see a bounce over the weekend, the news, and the campaigns, will have to start talking about the economy again in short order.
If you missed it, check out the entire debate below.
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I was surprised to see that McCain seemed to do as well as he did.
But for anyone to say that McCain won, well... they are really just talking to themselves.
Although I did read in a blog a comment from a person who did not watch the debate (they are in Europe), they listened to it, and just by listening they felt that McCain had the upper hand muchof the time(and this was an Obama supporter).
In my opinion Obama didn't do as well as I thought he would, but I thought he came out way ahead of McCain, though it is interesting to think about how he sounded without actually seeing him.
Did anyone notice McCain muttering "horse shit" under his breath when Obama was talking about McCain and Spain?
Do people really want a guy with this kind of temperament running our country? Meeting with other world leaders in delicate situations?
To me, it seemed like McCain won, but he was supposed to mop the floor with Obama because of the foreign policy angle.
I don't think either of them really stood out but it did look like McCain was up way past his bedtime.
It's amazing how often both candidates went out their ways to insult my intelligence. Whether declining to give straight answers about their thoughts on the proposed bailout, or offering other vague, meaningless crap about what programs they might have to cut because of economic problems and the proposed bailout, I felt as though they really thought I was a retarded 15-year-old with no knowledge of history, politics or government, and no ability to think critically. That is, they treated me as some mindless consumer, not an active citizen.
Shame on both of these assholes for wasting my time. And shame on us for allowing our supposedly great system to degrade to such a point.
matilda,
I agree with you, but don't you think you're being a little generous to the majority of the American public? I mean, the majority of the American public kept Bush iin office for 8 years and look how many people are ga-ga over "Bush-in-heels".
And how many political speeches are there that really aren't a waste of our time anyway? It's all the same crap year after year packaged into talking point pablum meant to be spoon fed to us.
I don't think I've ever once in my life listened to more than 3 minutes of any State Of The Union Address by any president.
We wake up the next morning and nothing changes.
but don't you think you're being a little generous to the majority of the American public?
I don't know. But I know everyone has the ability to think, and everyone has the duty to think. And if we don't have leaders that encourage such thinking, we have the duty to change the system. Unfortunately, we (me, you, the guy down the street) are too lazy, too cowardly, too busy, too cynical and too apathetic to do so. Therefore, things get worse despite our passion-filled complaints.
It's all the same crap year after year packaged into talking point pablum meant to be spoon fed to us.
So obvious, but so true, and so sad. Kings and despots by another name.
I listened on the radio, helps focus on what they say and not all that crap they slither all over the screen.
McCain sounded defensive and more than a little pedantic. He didn't sound like a man addressing a colleague, more as someone almost insulted by the comparison. Obama was respectful of McCain's experience and kept his cool and focus. McCain telling stories was just irritating. I'm with Matilda on feeling insulted by this style of rhetoric. Stop telling me anecdotes and asides about Jenny K. Lunchbox who gave you a slap bracelet in honor of her son.
I can't stand the style of these debates. The rigidity of the time limits and need to "move it along" cuts off discussion. I'd rather they each get 5 minutes to respond to a given questions and then 5 minutes to go back and forth. Let them argue, let them talk over each other. You think it's all bows and courtseys when they're meeting in private? I want a frank argument on the ideas, not a talking points fest.
And let the libertariains and Greens in for god's sake. But, I've been drinking :)
Face it, Idiocracy has set in.
Just look at Ingrid's comments: "If you didnt vote for my team, you are stupid." Im sure we could get into it a bit further, but does anyone really have time for Junior High insults and Nazi comments on a Saturday afternoon?
I do agree with the later half of said obvious comments (who couldnt?). We dont want leaders anymore, Americans want candidates that reflect what they already believe and look cool.
So you have one half of the country ga-ga over "Bush-in-heels," and the other blindly following some guy simply b/c he is half-black. Talk about asthetics gone nuts!
McCain my have won this round, but I doubt it will be enough. Does anyone really believe Palin/McCain can stop the inevitability of our half-breed hero?
"Just look at Ingrid's comments: "If you didnt vote for my team, you are stupid." Im sure we could get into it a bit further, but does anyone really have time for Junior High insults and Nazi comments on a Saturday afternoon?...................Does anyone really believe Palin/McCain can stop the inevitability of our half-breed hero?"
Clearly, you have tons of time on a Saturday afternoon.
Chris,
Did I say "if you didn't vote for my team, you are stupid?"
I don't recall that.
What I think is stupid and demeaning is you referring to Obama as a half-breed hero and thinking that Americans are voting for him because he is half black.
We have two people to choose from. Only two. If you think that his blackness is the reason that most people are voting for him then I don't know what to say.
I think that most people are voting for him just to keep McCain and Palin out of the White House.
CL,
anyone looking at this blog has tons of time on a Saturday.
Ingrid,
I dont see why you think suggesting that so much of Obama's appeal is his race...is so radical? Why isnt Biden the the Pres Candidate....doesnt he have all the things Obama doesnt?
Honestly, if Obama was 100% white, would we not be talking about a Clinton/McCain debate?
And if most people are voting just to keep McCain and Palin out of the white house, what does that say about the substance of Obama?....maybe race does have something to do with it.
I think most Americans, if they even watch the debates, only half-watch, or flip by on their way to something else, or watch while they're also reading or putting the kids to bed or whatever. So watching without sound, or listening to soundbites the next day will give you a better impression of how most Americans watched it.
Chris,
Truth be told, I voted for Hilary, but to be even more truthy I really would have liked to have seen and heard more from Kucinich. I think it was absurd that he was not allowed in debates and how he did not get the media coverage he deserved!
And I also think Obama made a big mistake when he did not ask Hilary to be his running mate.
I don't like our system of voting. The electoral college has got to go, I wish we had more than this two party system that pretty much invalidates any other good choice we may have. In the past I have twice voted for third party candidates but I'm not going to do that anymore.
And if Obama were all white I would still vote for him because I don't want to see Palin in a position where she is one melanoma cell away from being president.
But getting back to Obama's blackness....I think that most people are to the point where they want to see someone a bit more cerebral as president. His race aside, he has everything that McCain doesn't, he has intelligence, youth, vigor and charisma.
These are the things people are seeing now. You cannot say that he wouldn't be where he is if he were all white. You have no idea...maybe he'd be president already if he were all white!!
And besides, Obama is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.
Ingrid,
Agreed that Obama certainly has the intelligence, youth, vigor and charisma...in short he has "it." I think McCain has a degree of intelligence, but he looks and acts like that mean troll that lived under the bridge on Fraggle Rock.
Don't discount race here. All things considered, I think that even the Obama campaign has believe that Obama's race will be an asset and not a liability in November. You don't defeat the Clinton Machine with smarts and looks alone....other forces had to be at work. For every one redneck that wont vote for Obama b/c of his blackness, there are probably 10,000 young white voters that would die for the chance to not only vote for a candidate that has all the things you mentioned, but affords them the hip-ness and opportunity to carry out the penance of prior generations. Ask Hillary, she knows what I'm talking about.
And I hear ya with the third party folks. I voted for Nader until he made it about himself.